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July 24, 1.928. 1,678,399

c. F.'|.ARsEN COVER FOR QANS Filed Nav. 27, 1926 Char/e5 E Larsen INVENTOR A TT ORNE Y lll Patented July 24, 1928i.

cuantas r. nassen, or .NEW Yeux, N. Y'.

Cowan ron onus.

` Applficationled November 27,1926. .'Serial No. 1:51,*109.

This invention relates to cans containing emulsilied ,spirit-us yor socalled solid fuel k forrcooking purposes, and has `rfor its principal object :to provide la cover yfor such cans with means for lighting lthe fuel, .which meansfsimultaneously serve the purpose of removing the cover from the can.

lV ith this end in view, my inventionconsist-s Aessentially of a `handle suitably fas tened 'to the coveroffa can, lthe handle .being of such a length .as to `easily pry the cover off the can, iand `of means,` forming part of the handle, for .igniting .the contents .of the can, all embodied integrally with the cover, by the use kof lwhich the ,employment of the .customary can opener and vthe use of imatchesror separate .igniting devices are entirely eliminated.

IThe invention is illustrated lby .the aid of the accompanying drawings inwhich preferred embodiments of the `same are shown,

and. in `which ig. is a vertical cross sectional view similar Ito ithat 'shown yin Fig. 3, .but illustrating a modified form of an igniting device'ran'd of la support for 'thehandle g..

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view/along the plane of line 6 6 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. f7 a :fr'aginentary vertical sectional view `along the plane of line 7-7, Fig. 5, showing the support for the handle in elevation. Y l

Like numbers of reference denote similar parts throughout lthe several views and the yfollowing specification.

y 10 is a can made of sheet metal, having a bottom 11, a circular side l2, and a top 13 provided with an opening 14 defined by a downwardly projecting circular flange 15. 16 is emulsilied Spiritus or socalled solid fuel with which the can is filled.

17 is a coverconsisting, preferably, of a circular plate 18 having an upwardly eX- tending circular side'19 and an outwardly disposed ring 20. Side 19 is' adapted to fit within flange of the can, and ring fragmentary cross sectional Y 20 to restupon it, kthereby'closing the fopening 14. '.211and 22 zare upwardly extending standards or lugs made, preferably, vvby doubling over extensions-` at 23 at :opposite .extreme edgesxoftthe cover, as clearly shown in /F 3. The .upperend of :lug 122-1is bent f into atubular .socket :at 24.r :25.issa handle made up.v of, preferably, a :single piece :fof spring wire :26 inf the shape fof levers :2T` and S28, `.joined Ifby ya :circularloop .29. The end of lever 27 is bent downwardlyxatsiright anglesat 30 sto be ,heldttightlywithin tubular socket :24, rkand then :at/.31 horizontally at right anglesto form a1shaft32iwhich1has onesend journaled `within lug'.21':a-t 33. 34 is a slot in lug 21tofaicilitate :the inserting of .the end fof fthe shaft within Tit. 435 is a Toller, loosely -Inounted over shaft 32 made, preferably, of a 4very hardLmeta-l, and having ja rough, iraspllikeV .outer surface. The iendof lever 28 .is Ibent f .downwardly right r.angles 'at :36 "and `thr'ea'dedfat 37 ".to receive a 'couplingl38 whiichvservesftoifasten a'soft metal pin 39to Athe fend of Ehefdownwardly bent end 3610i the lever..-28. The pin 39 rides upon :the iroller l35. L'evers'27 and 28. are .each provided witlrloops 40;and 41 which serve as linger yrests when operat- In ."Figs.5, 6 fand v7 i's shown ia' modification of the constructionwof fthecover Ajust .d'e` scribed, which consists (primarily :in .substituting a .flat .formlfoif Lifriictionfldevice for the roller 35 referred to herein. vIn these figures, the `lugs L21 and 122 @are ``"not -.made out of one lpiece with/.thegcover 18, but :they are connected together by a 1 strip `1.42' "which is welded .or 1 otherwise :suitably secured `to the cover 18. A flat piece 43 of very hard metal, like roller 35, also having a rough rasp-like surface, is supported over the shaft `32. Recess 44 at one end of piece 43 engaging notches 45 of lug 21, andv recess 46 straddling wire 31 at the yother end, permit piece 43 to move laterally; the pressure eX- erted by the lever 28 which is made of spring wire, against the pin 39 resting upon the piece 43 and the projection of socket 24' of lug 22 prevent vertical displacement Vof piece 43.

The operation of the device is, as follows: Y

When it is desired to open the can and use the fuel, downward pressure is exerted upon levers 27 and 28, the hand of the user spanning both levers, his thumb and foreiinger resting against the outside of loops and 4l, when the cover will easily be pried olf the can. The cover is then reversed, that is held over the open end of the can, upside down, and lever 28 is moved inwardly toward lever 27 (as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l) by the pressure of the thumb, which causes the soft metal pin 39 to be drawn over the hard roller 35 or fiat piece 4:3, if the modified construction is used. The frictional contact between the soft pin 39 and the hard rough surface of roller 35 or piece 43 cause sparks to form which, the cover acting as a shield, are directed downwardly to the fuel in the can which is thereby ignited. Roller 85 and piece l?) ar'e loosely mounted so as not to present the same surface to the soft metal pin 39 when the same is drawn over them, which tends to increase the lasting qualities of these friction members.

f My invention is particularly advantageous for use by campers or others wishing to light the fuel in the open where a breeze is blowing or where a strong draft is prevailing. rIhe cover, after having been removed from the can, is inverted and held with the igniterclose to the open end of the can and the fuel. In this position the cover acts as a shield directing the sparks into `the fuel and, by being manipulated to a suitable position, will prevent the wind or draft ,blowing out the flame in its initial stage.

INhile I have shown two modifications of the igniting device proper, I do not Wish to limit myself to either of the two or any combination of their essential elements, but wish to cover broadly any form of frictional igniter, fastened in a suitable manner to the cover of a can which may be removed from the can by pressure upcn the operating medium of the igniter, as more clearly set forth in the appended claims.

v What I claim as new, is:

l. A can, having a removable cover, an igniting device fastened to the cover, a lever projecting from the .said cover adapted to remove the cover entirely from the can, and

means optionally coacting with the said lever to operate the said igniting device.

2. A can having a removable cover, an ignitingdevice fastened to the cover, a pair of lever arms projecting from the said cover adapted to pry the cover off the can, one of the said lever arms being in sliding contact with the said igniting device and having means to operate the same, the said cover protecting from wind a flame started by the said igniting device.

3.- A can having a removable cover, a sparking device, having a friction element, fastened to the cover, a pair of lever arms projecting from the said cover adapted to to pry the cover off the can, one of the said lever arms being adapted to slidingly contact with the said friction element for the purpose of emitting sparks therefrom, the said cover, when inverted, acting as a shield for the said sparks.

4; Ay can having a removable cover, a friction element mounted upon the cover, a lever secured to the said cover adapted to pry the cover off the can, the said lever having means slidingly engaging the said friction element for the purpose of emitting sparks therefrom, the said cover, when inverted, aiding the starting of a liame by the said sparks. V

5. A can having a removable cover, lugs on the cover, a pair' of handle bars formed by a single piece of wirev having one end projecting through the said lugs, a friction member loosely supported between the said lugs by the said end of the Wire, the other end of the wire, being the terminal of one of the handle bars, engagingthe said friction member to cause sparks to be emitted therefrom, when brought in sliding contact therewith, the said handle bars being adapted to pry the'cover off the can, the said cover acting as a shield for the said sparks. 4

In testimony whereof I'have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES F. LARSEN. 

